When 'Once Upon a Time' first started, it was highly addictive and made the most of a truly great and creative premise. Really loved the idea of turning fairy tales on their heads and putting own interpretations on them and the show early on clearly had a ball. Watched it without fail everytime it came on and it was often a highlight of the week. Which was why it was sad when it ran out of ideas and lost its magic in the later seasons.
Although with a few not so great episodes, Seasons 1-4 gave me a lot of pleasures. Season 5 was decent to brilliant from personal opinion in its first half but the quality became uneven in the Underworld arc. Season 6 started off very promisingly, really liked the first three episodes while feeling more mixed on "Strange Case". "Street Rats" however left me quite conflicted, and also had disappointing mixed feelings on "Dark Waters" and "Heartless". It was to my relief that "I'll Be Your Mirror" was a big improvement, not perfect or great but there are far less faults than in the previous three episodes and it is the best episode since "The Other Shoe" for me.
Starting with the faults, "I'll Be Your Mirror" is predictable in places and cheesy in others. Not all the characters are progressing, some are unrecognisable compared to the early seasons (i.e. Gold was far more complex before) and a few are without much personality, especially Belle.
Hook's appearance was completely pointless and felt pigeon-holed in. The relationship between Gold and Belle is now very stale and not very interesting, also borderline abusive. Gold and Evil Queen together may have been fascinating at first but comes over as disturbing and strange now.
There are many good things though about "I'll Be Your Mirror". As is always the case with 'Once Upon a Time' it is a visually handsome episode apart from some cheap looking props (like the wand and hammer, that look like second hand Halloween accessories), it's photographed beautifully and the settings and costumes have colour and atmosphere without being too dreary or garish. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable theme tune.
Acting is very good. Lana Parrilla is truly splendid on double role duty, which sees her conveying many emotions and such and she does it with relish and nuance. Jennifer Morrison and Robert Carlyle also give strong performances, while Jared Gilmore gives some of his best acting to date. There is much better pacing here and it doesn't feel rushed or over-stuffed this time, making it easier to follow than the previous four episodes.
Much of the story engages and there is far more story advancing than previously, with the scenes with the Evil Queen (particularly with Henry) and Regina and Emma's subplot coming off best. Henry's story has sweetness and tension and he is not too hard to relate to. The Evil Queen steals every scene she's in and the Charmings' story is touching without being too sentimental. Aladdin and Jasmine's roles aren't as pointless as feared. The writing is a big improvement here, nowhere near as campy or melodramatic, a few moments of cheese still but there are humorous, tense, emotional and thought-provoking moments too. Namely the Evil Queen and Henry and especially Regina and Emma, their scenes and rapport being the best thing about the episode. Emma is far more likeable and easier to relate to here than she was in the episodes between "The Other Shoe" and this and the Evil Queen and Henry certainly are interestingly advancing as characters, love Zelena too and the suitably mysterious role of the Dragon.
In conclusion, pretty good episode and an improvement. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Although with a few not so great episodes, Seasons 1-4 gave me a lot of pleasures. Season 5 was decent to brilliant from personal opinion in its first half but the quality became uneven in the Underworld arc. Season 6 started off very promisingly, really liked the first three episodes while feeling more mixed on "Strange Case". "Street Rats" however left me quite conflicted, and also had disappointing mixed feelings on "Dark Waters" and "Heartless". It was to my relief that "I'll Be Your Mirror" was a big improvement, not perfect or great but there are far less faults than in the previous three episodes and it is the best episode since "The Other Shoe" for me.
Starting with the faults, "I'll Be Your Mirror" is predictable in places and cheesy in others. Not all the characters are progressing, some are unrecognisable compared to the early seasons (i.e. Gold was far more complex before) and a few are without much personality, especially Belle.
Hook's appearance was completely pointless and felt pigeon-holed in. The relationship between Gold and Belle is now very stale and not very interesting, also borderline abusive. Gold and Evil Queen together may have been fascinating at first but comes over as disturbing and strange now.
There are many good things though about "I'll Be Your Mirror". As is always the case with 'Once Upon a Time' it is a visually handsome episode apart from some cheap looking props (like the wand and hammer, that look like second hand Halloween accessories), it's photographed beautifully and the settings and costumes have colour and atmosphere without being too dreary or garish. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable theme tune.
Acting is very good. Lana Parrilla is truly splendid on double role duty, which sees her conveying many emotions and such and she does it with relish and nuance. Jennifer Morrison and Robert Carlyle also give strong performances, while Jared Gilmore gives some of his best acting to date. There is much better pacing here and it doesn't feel rushed or over-stuffed this time, making it easier to follow than the previous four episodes.
Much of the story engages and there is far more story advancing than previously, with the scenes with the Evil Queen (particularly with Henry) and Regina and Emma's subplot coming off best. Henry's story has sweetness and tension and he is not too hard to relate to. The Evil Queen steals every scene she's in and the Charmings' story is touching without being too sentimental. Aladdin and Jasmine's roles aren't as pointless as feared. The writing is a big improvement here, nowhere near as campy or melodramatic, a few moments of cheese still but there are humorous, tense, emotional and thought-provoking moments too. Namely the Evil Queen and Henry and especially Regina and Emma, their scenes and rapport being the best thing about the episode. Emma is far more likeable and easier to relate to here than she was in the episodes between "The Other Shoe" and this and the Evil Queen and Henry certainly are interestingly advancing as characters, love Zelena too and the suitably mysterious role of the Dragon.
In conclusion, pretty good episode and an improvement. 7/10 Bethany Cox
